Cricket sound with Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue Amp

[JoeM]

...
PS: When you put the amp from standby to on, you can see the power tubes having some blue light in them. My guess is that blue light emission is suggesting some X-rays? Since this is my first tube amp, I don't know if that is an expected behavior or not.

The blue glow is normal, and not X-Rays. But cricket sounds are not normal!

[MWJB]

Blue glow in the tubes is normal, as are yellow points of light....the grey or black plates glowing red/orange is not, nor is lightning like arcs & flashes...nor is cricket noises.

[Zipslack]

More details

Sorry if I wasn't too clear before. When I was talking about Preamp Out and PowerAmp In, there are a few things to check that can help...

1. Use some contact clear (or even 91% rubbing alcohol) and clean the contacts on both jacks - see if that makes a difference (probably won't, but doesn't hurt)

Next two operations require another amp with pre-out and post-in loop.

2. Connect Preamp Out from known-good amp to PowerAmp In of "cricket amp" - if noise is not apparent, then the problem is with the preamp section of the bad amp.

3. Connect Preamp Out from "cricket amp" to PowerAmp In of known-good amp - if noise is not apparent, then the problem is in power amp section of bad amp.

This doesn't identify the problem, just narrows the search.

[LeoZeppelin]

Recorded clip of amp's noise and cricket sound

Thanks Zipslack.

I only have one amp, so my options are very limited.

Anyhow, I've been sitting here for over 3 hours trying to reproduce the cricket noise but it is so sporadic that it shows up at its own time. Generally it only takes 20-30 minutes. But, now that the cricket noise is not there, I can hear and focus on the amp's noise. It is like a 60hz noise not the hiss. Very annoying and gets worse with the overdrive/muddy channel. I did record it using my cheap mic.

I recorded -- Over clean channel, Input 1, Input 2, Power Amp In, Muddy channel, with overdrive (BK Butler Tube Drive) on Single coil, I switched to the humbuckers to show that it reduces the noise a bit. Additionally, I know that putting a guitar parallel to the amp gives feedback and it gets better as we move it perpendicular but it should not be this horrible anyway. Please check the clip and see if it gives you any idea:

zSHARE - jj.mp3

Imagine this sound with Phaser ...especially over the muddy channel. You can't play that kind of sound phasing in and out on stage. The noise is worst in Input 1 and kind of lower in Input 2 and Power Amp In. Humbuckers sound way quieter than the single coils...which also should not happen this horribly. Overdrive and muddy channel just amplify the noise considerably higher and you can hear the hints of the cricket sound.

Sorry about the mic but the noise is much more annoying and amplified actually than what you hear on the recording.

Here is a clip of cricket sound that I recorded on Saturday:
zSHARE - newfile48-cutmp3.net.mp3

This cricket sound kind of sounds like an irritated version of the amp's noise from the earlier clip. Doesn't it?

I don't know if it gives you some idea or not about what/where the problem could be. Looking for suggestions/advice.

Thanks.

[GregS]

I haven't listened to the sound clips but from what you describe I think the problem could be a bad electrical connection somewhere like a bad solder joint. This would be consistent with the somewhat intermittent nature of the problem. Trying to find it could be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I believe you've tried all sorts of different tubes and you still have the problem so it isn't likely the tubes.

It would be a lot easier to just take it back and exchange it for one that works and save yourself all this headache. If you do start trying to resolder suspect connections you'll likely void your warranty so that isn't a good idea.

Greg

[LeoZeppelin]

I haven't listened to the sound clips but from what you describe I think the problem could be a bad electrical connection somewhere like a bad solder joint. This would be consistent with the somewhat intermittent nature of the problem. Trying to find it could be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I believe you've tried all sorts of different tubes and you still have the problem so it isn't likely the tubes.

It would be a lot easier to just take it back and exchange it for one that works and save yourself all this headache. If you do start trying to resolder suspect connections you'll likely void your warranty so that isn't a good idea.

Greg

Yes. The reason I've been trying to gather the information here is because the GC guys here are idiots..most of them. They will fight to death to make sure that you keep the shit product. They do not want to recognize any problem. A radio noise to them is acceptable while to me an amp should never be noisy...except a regular hiss sound at high volume. I will call them anyway. But it will be very useful if I can gather enough knowledge beforehand too, knowing how they are and how it might turn out to be over there.

Thanks.

[Mark Black]

Well I know you might not want to hear this, but the first sound clip (nice job documenting the changes as you went by the way) sounds an awful lot like a problem in the guitar or cable, though I suppose it could also conceivably be caused by a poor ground in the amp. The effects of the different inputs and tube driver effect on the sound all seem to me to point at noise being introduced into the amp, rather than being created by it.

I have experienced very similar noise problems in a particular venue where it seemed nothing could be done and the noise was present to some extent in 2 different guitar rigs with multiple guitars & and also in the bass rig, so I know such areas of heavy interference exist.

Regarding the cricket noises in the second clip: Any cell phones, cordless phones, motors (such as in a furnace or pump), computer equipment, or the like anywhere in the vicinity?

[guitarmike2107]

Wow! The amp is dead quite when the guitar is unplugged, thats a big clue!

Ok so you get the noise when :

the guitar is plugged in
you are not playing
and when you are playing
with mutilple guitars
and in multiple places
and you dont have any secret electronic ships placed in your body for government tracing and general mind control?

You dont get the noise with
the guitar unplugged?
when the pre-amp volume control is turned all the way down?

So either the problem is the guitars and environment or connections on the input jacks leading to the first valve input. you now need to decide what you are going to do.

if you are not happy to do any soldering yourself, and throw the warranty out the window, there is no point going any further, take the amp and guitars to the shop or a reliable amp tech to get it sorted out.

[LeoZeppelin]

Well I know you might not want to hear this, but the first sound clip (nice job documenting the changes as you went by the way) sounds an awful lot like a problem in the guitar or cable, though I suppose it could also conceivably be caused by a poor ground in the amp.

Thanks for replying Sir!

I have a rarely used monster cable and another one I got from GC. Both are good...not that cables could not be an issue. Funny thing is that I have never tried another guitar cuz I own only 1 guitar. It is also from last year a Gibson LP. I would hope there is no problems with it because that would disastrous...faulty expensive gear! Ground, good point. I will mention that when/if I have to send it to Fender.

Regarding the cricket noises in the second clip: Any cell phones, cordless phones, motors (such as in a furnace or pump), computer equipment, or the like anywhere in the vicinity?

A couple of cell phones sometimes, definitely 1 desktop and sometimes 1-2 laptops nearby. Amp is just 2 feet away from the desktop's tower. But I must mention that I have noticed this sound with my amp in studio also (it was shameful)...only my amp was making that loud noise. At one of the gigs, I heard it making the same noise. I think, the vicinity of a desktop or laptops etc do add to an existing noise.

I called Fender and planning to drive over 2 hours to hand it over myself to the closest recommended repair shop and collect it too...to make sure that there is no noise at all. I will do that in case nothing else here works. Although, that will be my last resort.

Thanks.

[LeoZeppelin]

Thanks for replying!

Wow! The amp is dead quite when the guitar is unplugged, thats a big clue!

Yes. I would be happiest person to find out that it is cables and it will be devastating to hear that it is my guitar...because then I will be calling Gibson support and will go through that process.

Ok so you get the noise when :

the guitar is plugged in

Yes.

you are not playing

and when you are playing

Yes, guitar plugged in and not playing still makes the noise. Playing also has the sound running in parallel but becomes more audible as soon as I stop playing.

with mutilple guitars

I have not tried that yet. I only own one guitar but this is something that I must try ASAP.

and in multiple places

Yes. The problem reproduced even in gigs/studio etc. But I was using same cables and same guitar.

and you dont have any secret electronic ships placed in your body for government tracing and general mind control?

I have added that on my list of reasons too and I am convinced, they're out to get me...all of us man, they'll get all of us.

You dont get the noise with
the guitar unplugged?
when the pre-amp volume control is turned all the way down?

Nothing plugged into the amp only made the hiss. But honestly, since the cricket sound is sporadic + I have mostly (99.99%) of the time a cable plugged in, it might be a misinformation to say that amp is always dead quiet with no "cricket sound" with nothing plugged in.

if you are not happy to do any soldering yourself, and throw the warranty out the window, there is no point going any further, take the amp and guitars to the shop or a reliable amp tech to get it sorted out.

Yep. I think that is what I am about to do. It will be fun explaining them the issue !!

[guitarmike2107]

I thought you said you had tried it with two les pauls.. I misread.

You need to test it with another guitar,
and you need to test it with all that other electronic stuff turned off!

[Steve Conner]

Have you placed your cell phone near the amp? Or in your pocket while playing?

Are you close to a wi-fi router, bluetooth thingy, etc?

Anything with a radio transmitter in it can potentially inject weird noises into your amp. The fact that it doesn't do it at Guitar Center or your practice room adds more weight to this theory.

[LeoZeppelin]

Have you placed your cell phone near the amp? Or in your pocket while playing?

Are you close to a wi-fi router, bluetooth thingy, etc?

Anything with a radio transmitter in it can potentially inject weird noises into your amp. The fact that it doesn't do it at Guitar Center or your practice room adds more weight to this theory.

At the studio or jam room or the gig venue, there was no router but I could still hear the noise. When I play in the house, there is a router/modem and a desktop tower within 1-2 feet range. But, I have also played with this amp in the basement where there is nothing in proximity and I could still hear the noise.

I kind of do understand that the noise is either from the amp or from the guitar/cables....chances are that it is from the amp. If not tubes, then it is something in the circuit. The electronics around it might be contributing to it to some extent but they do not seem to be the cause of its initiation.

Thanks.

[Tubefreak]

Here's what I did to solve this issue with my Blues deluxe. (Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, this is a common issue with many fender models. My friend has the same problem with his pro junior.) I bought two 112 fender speaker extension cabinets. I uplugged the speaker in the cabinet with the power amp and plug the extension cabinets in only. This exterminates the crickett issue. You can even put the combo amp on top of one of the speaker cabinets without experiencing the crickett issue. The only time this problem exsists, is when the speaker is used that is mounted inside the combo amp. Obviously this speaker is vibrating one of the amp's components enough to create an extremely annoying audiable crickett sound in the amp's output section.

[Jazz P Bass]

"This exterminates the crickett issue."
I like that turn of phrase.